await

American  

[uh-wayt] / əˈweɪt /

verb (used with object)

• awaits,
  present (3rd person singular)
• awaited,
  past participle,  past
• awaiting
  present participle

1. to wait for; expect; look for.

   He is still awaiting an answer.

2. to be in store for; be imminent.

   A pleasant surprise awaits her in today's mail.

3. Obsolete. to lie in wait for.

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verb (used without object)

• awaits,
  present (3rd person singular)
• awaited,
  past participle,  past
• awaiting
  present participle

1. to wait, as in expectation.

await British  

/ əˈweɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to wait for; expect

2. (tr) to be in store for

3. (intr) to wait, esp with expectation

4. obsolete (tr) to wait for in order to ambush

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Usage

What are other ways to say await?

To await something is to wait for it or look for it expectantly. How is await different from anticipate, hope, and expect? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• awaiter
  noun

Inflected Forms

Participles

• awaiting
  present
• awaited
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• await
  simple
• awaits
  simple
• have awaited
  perfect
• has awaited
  perfect
• am awaiting
  progressive
• are awaiting
  progressive
• is awaiting
  progressive
• have been awaiting
  perfect progressive
• has been awaiting
  perfect progressive

Past

• awaited
  simple
• had awaited
  perfect
• was awaiting
  progressive
• were awaiting
  progressive
• had been awaiting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will await
  simple
• will have awaited
  perfect
• will be awaiting
  progressive
• will have been awaiting
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of await

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English awaiten, from Old North French awaitier (Old French aguaitier ), equivalent to a- a- ⁵ + waitier wait

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Explanation

To await is to anticipate or look forward to something. If you're hoping to get a letter from your pen pal, you'll eagerly await the mail carrier's arrival every afternoon. When you await a phone call, you might sit by the telephone at home or keep your cell phone in your hand. A prisoner who awaits trial is biding his time until his case comes before a judge. Sometimes await implies that some particular outcome is in store for someone: "A terrible surprise awaits her, when she gets home and sees that her dog ate the sofa."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

await awaits awaited awaiting

But his doctors have said Leo's recovery has been progressing normally as they await the results of tests that will determine the course of action to take.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

"This is his land. We await him with open arms," said Melani Soto, an 18-year-old university student.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

“Although new tariff challenges await in September, the August strength suggests the economy was weathering the storm better than expected in the third quarter,” Shelly Kaushik, senior economist at Bank of Montreal Capital Markets, said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Taking the episode full circle, they each laid in a coffin, just as Winkleman had, to await their fate.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

Embittered by failure, yearning for a safe place where he could await old age, the false homeopath took refuge in Macondo.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Although the Earth encounter required extensive preparation, it is relatively simple compared with what awaits Juice at Jupiter.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 3, 2026

Jefferies cuts its target price on Rakuten Group to 775 yen from Y1,000 and maintains a hold rating as it awaits greater visibility on the mobile operations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Hopefully he doesn’t snack on anything he isn’t supposed to while he awaits his big-screen return.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

While another Test awaits in the United States, the sense of an unofficial series being on the line was tangible.

From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026

Finally, Lincoln walks downstairs and out onto the front porch, where the presidential carriage awaits.

From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly

The sixth instalment in the flagship series has been awaited by players around the world for more than 13 years, since the release of "GTA V".

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

As investigators awaited the results of the DNA test, they gathered circumstantial evidence.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

Oil declined but remained near multimonth highs, while Asian stocks gained as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s rate decision.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

The two US troops ejected from the damaged plane, were separated, and had to evade Iranian forces while they awaited rescue from US special forces.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

I told him what little I knew about the trail and the wilderness life that awaited us.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Volunteers with the Local Brigade were staged in the parking lot of Trancas Country Market along the coast, awaiting orders from the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

Anti-war activist Mikhail says he and his wife Dasha are awaiting deportation from Finland "any day".

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

The 63-year-old, who has been held in Maghaberry Prison awaiting sentencing, is seeking to appeal his convictions.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

However Texas’ season ends up, fans awaiting the next great Manning may have to face a somewhat duller reality.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

“Because,” she replied, tapping the stack of envelopes against her hand, “I have been awaiting their responses.”

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

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Related Words

• anticipate
• attend
• count on
• stay

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